Music

Modest Mouse premiere first new single in years, "Lampshade on Fire".

Wow, has it really been eight years since Modest Mouse last released a record? Apparently it has. But the band will return in March with the much anticipated Strangers to Ourselves. And now today we get our first taste of the record with the single “Lampshades on Fire” being premiered today on The Current’s website…

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Stumbled Upon #008 – Phil Davidson (Blue Mountains)

In our 8th instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet singer/songwriter Phil Davidson, and chat about his latest Christmas song ‘A Long Way From Home (This Christmas)’. Musician: Phil Davidson Website / Social Media: www.phildavidson.net Facebook Genre: Acoustic singer/songwriter Members & their roles: Phil Davidson: Guitars/Vocals/Songs What music or artists inspired you? Neil Young/Jackson Browne/Larry Norman/U2/Bruce…

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Festival Review: Festival of the Sun Day One ft. Violent Soho – Port Macquarie, NSW (12.12.14)

Against all odds, expectations and forecasts, Festival of the Sun lived up to its name this weekend in the coastal NSW town of Port Macquarie, delivering two days of great music, excellent vibes and, indeed… a great deal of Sun. Though people start camping from much earlier – enjoying their BYO drinks, limited capacity (3,000)…

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New release CDs and Books deliver last minute Christmas gift ideas for fans of The Beatles

Hardly a year goes by without the release of new Beatles related material. Be they compilation albums, books, covers, gimmicks… it seems there’s always something to keep fans of the iconic British band happy. At this point though, unless McCartney or Ringo bring out some new auto-biography, filled with never before known details, is there…

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angels and airwaves

Tom DeLonge of Angels and Airwaves (USA) speaks about The Dream Walker“, aliens and the brain

With the recent release of their fifth studio album, The Dream Walker, Angels and Airwaves have left fans in awe with music that has encouraged to explore the infinite boundaries of the universe. In the past, many have criticised Tom DeLonge’s “nonsense” in believing aliens but for a person that clearly knows his shit, who could blame him? He is,…

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Best of 2014: Jeremy Hunter from Kingswood's 11 Favourite Australian and International Albums of the Year

There were some great releases in 2014, locally and internationally. Instead of wafting on about them and throwing in Pitchfork reviewer wanker buzzwords, I thought it would be easier to list the albums that I enjoyed in 2014: AUSTRALIAN RELEASES 1. Mink Mussel Creek – Mink Mussel Manticore 2. Dan Sultan – Blackbird 3. Blank…

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Why is the Indie Music scene in Hong Kong struggling?

If you read my review of Clockenflap festival in Hong Kong last week, you may remember I mentioned that there were quite a few bands saying that this was the first time they’d played together on a stage… in front of a crowd. Coming from Australia, you can’t help but think that this is the…

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the AU interview at Clockenflap: Dan Deacon talks about his next album, touring with Arcade Fire and more.

Ahead of his return to Australia next month, playing Sugar Mountain, MONA FOMA, Sydney Festival and more, we caught up with Baltimore electronic artist (and one of the greatest live acts you’ll ever see) Dan Deacon while he was in Hong Kong to play Clockenflap Festival. We get the latest on his much anticipated new…

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Stumbled Upon #007 – Luke Morris (Byron Bay)

In our 7th instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet Byron ‘s folk troubadour Luke Morris , and chat about his album, Sugarcane Road’. Musician: Luke Morris Website / Social Media: Facebook / Triple J Unearthed Genre: Alternative folk Members & their roles: We tour mostly as a two piece. Nick Bampton on lead guitar and…

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the AU interview: New Street Adventure (UK) on No Hard Feelings, influences and more!

Following the release of their debut album No Hard Feelings back in October, we caught up with frontman Nick Corbin from New Street Adventure, a new wave soul band from London, to find out a bit more about the band, their debut album, and their new single “Be Somebody”. How did New Street Adventure come…

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the AU interview: Sharon Van Etten (USA) talks Are We There

Ahead of her Australian tour next year, with visits to Golden Plains Festival, Womadelaide and the Perth International Arts Festival, we caught up with American singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten to find out a bit more about her most recent album Are We There, her approach to songwriting, and her thoughts on touring Australia, and the…

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Ten performances not to miss at Sydney Festival 2015

From the 8th of January, the city of Sydney will once again be transformed by the annual month long extravaganza known simply as Sydney Festival. The event will take over spaces around the city – some, such as the Famous Spiegeltent, are only here for the festival. But with hundreds upon hundreds of performances, it’s…

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Ball Park Music take home the AU Award's inaugural People's Choice Award for best live act of 2014.

This morning on 2SER radio in Sydney, the AU review’s Larry Heath announced the winners of the first annual people’s choice award as part of the AU Awards – celebrating the best in live music in Australia. Close to 10,000 votes were cast as fans from Australia and around the world voted for their favourite…

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Stumbled Upon #006 – Rebecca Clements (Bristol, UK)

In our 6th instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet Bristol’s folk rock songstress Rebecca Clements , chat about getting started at a young age and get a sneak peak at her latest track. Musician: Rebecca Clements Website / Social Media: Facebook / Soundcloud / Instagram / Twitter Genre: Indie Folk-Rock Members & their roles: Rebecca…

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interview: Joby J. Ford of Mariachi el Bronx (USA) chats recording, touring and Bluesfest

Mariachi el Bronx are just one of the many bands to hit our shores early in 2015 for Bluesfest in Byron Bay. Our reporter John Goodridge chats to guitarist Joby J. Ford about the recording process and life on the road. Hey Joby, what are you guys up to at the moment? We are home…

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Photo Gallery: The Preatures + Holy Holy + Hot Spoke – The Hi-Fi Sydney (05.12.14)

The Preatures drop into Sydney on their National tour showcasing their debut release Blue Planet Eyes supported by Holy Holy and Hot Spoke. Pete Dovgan brings you photos from the night:

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the AU interview at Clockenflap: CHVRCHES (Scotland) talk "Drive" and recording "Dead Air" for the Hunger Games Soundtrack

While we were in Hong Kong covering a festival called Clockenflap, we sat down with the Scottish trio Chvrches. You may have already watched some of our chat – now read on as we talk to the band about Hong Kong, plans for their Winter and their work on the Hunger Games and Drive soundtracks….

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the AU sessions: Canadian troubadour Tim Chaisson performs "Animals" in a park in Sydney

Before he hits the stage as part of our LIVE AU sessions series in Sydney on Tuesday, December 9th, Canadian troubadour Tim Chaisson joined us at a park in Central Station to perform his beautiful track “Animals” for our AU sessions web series. Enjoy it here, and don’t miss his LIVE and FREE at our…

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Hello Asia! Festival Review: Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival – Hong Kong (28-30.11.14)

Over the course of its seven years, the uniquely named Clockenflap has become Hong Kong’s premiere contemporary music and arts festival, presenting a mix of local Hong Kong indie bands with the finest artists from around the world. This year, with music spread over 3 days and 9 stages, the event proved bigger than ever,…

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the AU interview at Clockenflap: Raul Pacheco from Ozomatli (Los Angeles) on their year of touring "Place In the Sun"

Larry Heath talks to Raul Pacheco from Ozomatli about coming to Hong Kong for the first time and we reflect on their year of touring Place In the Sun, which included a jaunt in Australia that included the iconic Byron Bay Bluesfest.

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the AU interview at Clockenflap: Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai (Scotland) talk Australia, their 20th anniversary and the year of "Rave Tapes"

Larry Heath talks to Stuart Braithwaite of iconic Scottish band Mogwai backstage at Clockenflap in Hong Kong to talk about their upcoming 20th anniversary, their experiences touring Asia, their year of touring Rave Tapes and their 2015 return to Australia – their first headline tour of our country in some six years… Mogwai Australian Headline…

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punk goes pop vol 6

Album Review: Punk Goes Pop Vol. 6 (2014 Compilation)

Each year, Fearless Records brings various compilations made up of cover songs and for the past few years of the series, it has gotten to the point where bands of the metalcore/post-hardcore genres are becoming avidly prominent in the series of Punk Goes…. It’s easy to enjoy Volume 6 of the Punk Goes Pop compilation, but of course…

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the AU interview at Clockenflap: The Raveonettes (Denmark via LA) talk about LA, Hong Kong and their latest album "Pe'Ahi"

Larry Heath interviews The Raveonettes backstage at Clockenflap in Hong Kong to talk about their latest album PE’AHI, its “surprise release”, recording the album (and living) in Los Angeles and we find out if they have any plans to come to Australia on this album cycle.

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Red Carpet at the 2014 ARIAs: We talk to INXS about Dan Sultan and then they reunite on the ARIA Red Carpet 2014

On the red carpet at the 2014 ARIA Awards, Larry chats with the Fariss brothers of INXS about Melbourne rocker Dan Sultan before the man himself turns out for a nice little reunion! Sultan, a favourite with industry and the public alike, went on to win the Best Rock Album ARIA that night, after being…

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Stumbled Upon #005 – Stevie (Brisbane)

In our new series “Stumbled Upon”, we get to know a new Australian band we’ve stumbled across. In our fifth instalment, we chat to Phoebe Imhoff, vocalist of Brisbane’s latest electronic pop duo Stevie and get a sneak peak at the brand new single. Musician/Band Name: Stevie Website / Social Media: www.stevieband.com Facebook / Soundcloud…

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The Vaccines preview three new tracks off their upcoming record at Clockenflap in Hong Kong.

The Vaccines have been previewing new tracks off their yet-to-be-titled third record (due out in May 2015) as they return to the road, playing their first shows in over a year. In our exclusive interview with the band at Clockenflap (Hong Kong), they promised they’d preview three tracks from the next record, and indeed they…

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The Five Best Performances at Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival in Hong Kong

The three day Music and Arts Festival Clockenflap just wrapped up its seventh edition in Hong Kong and we were there to bring you exclusive Australian coverage! Throughout the week you’ll read more reviews, see more photo galleries and watch more interviews from the event – but to kick things off, I’ve picked my five…

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the AU interview at Clockenflap: CHVRCHES (Scotland) talk Social Media, the Business and the End of the Tour

Photo: Perri Cassie the AU review sits down with CHVRCHES backstage at Clockenflap in Hong Kong, they talk about Social Media management, the business of the band and the long running tour for their debut record coming to an end as they look ahead to writing and recording record number three.

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